Ive found it to be very unhelpful when i send out a general fishing hook as a general post asking for commisions on a project i want because most of the time the responses i get back are from artists that charge market value for a piece while not having the correct skills to do what i ask or misinterpret the very clear instructions i give.
This has led to me paying upfront on a few occasions, getting half baked art and being told its what i wanted. Recently i had a commision where i paid 170$ and got not even half finished. The artist told me it was what i paid for and if i want the rest finished I'd have to pay extra. I only got half back from paypal but it really puts a dampener on me wanting to get more commisions when things like this happen.

Not only that but i have 4 commisions ive been waiting on for a long time. One even over a year with promises of "oh ill start that soon" or just radio silence

I can understand thinks happen in life and people may need time but i think its respectful for artists to communicate if things are going on or if they cant do it refund the person, though i understand its some peoples only way of income its just very frustrating. I dont like piling up new coms while waiting for old ones because i may just forget i ordered them entirely.

I try to give new artists a chance when i can but at this point i think i might just need to find one really good one i like and stick with them.